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That Was Quick: Hulu Pulls Plug on Kylo
We reported earlier about the new service, which lets users browse the Web from the couch, using a TV-friendly browser that lets users zoom, pan, and perform other functions using any common USB HID device.
As we mentioned previously, Kylo's home page directs users to the main Web site of several streaming services such as Hulu and Netflix. It does not take you to some special made-for-TV interface.
At release, Hulu worked fine with Kylo. Now it does not.
Hillcrest CEO Dan Simpkins just released this statement:
"We are currently investigating why Hulu videos are not playing within the Kylo browser. Prior to our formal launch, Hulu videos would play within the Kylo browser. Like Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari, the Kylo browser is simply a Web browser, it's our sincere hope that Hulu isn't restricting access."
We hope so too.
It's the same thing Boxee has maintained since Hulu famously shut off Boxee.
Boxee CEO Avner Ronen said recently:
I’d like to set the record straight regarding Boxee’s access to Hulu. Boxee uses a web browser to access Hulu’s content – just like Firefox or Internet Explorer. Boxee users click on a link to Hulu’s website and the video within that page plays. We don’t “take” the video. We don’t copy it. We don’t put ads on top of it. The video and the ads play like they do on other browsers or on Hulu Desktop. And it certainly is legal to do so. …
The company also has threatened providers of other TV-oriented interfaces that won't pay up to link to Hulu.com.
Please.
Meanwhile, makers of expensive niche media servers such as Crestron (ADMS) and Request (IMC) still let users access Hulu through their platforms.
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6 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
Is anyone surprised by this? Hulu has a history of blocking pretty much every easy method of getting its content onto a tv.
@cypherx has the right of it… Hulu sucks.
This topic keeps coming up again and again.
HULU was never meant to be run on TV’s or other boxes but rather on a regular browser running on a PC.
They released their own HULU DESKTOP and I anticipate that with that they would enforce more strict limitation on who is authorized to stream their content.
Also, remember who owns NBC now and what may come with it.
Here’s the link to the desktop app if anyone is interested.
Most likely it will replace the current web interface at some point…
I have a pc hooked up to a big screen HDTV. I regularly watch Hulu with that set up. So even if Hulu doesn’t like it, it is being watched on tv’s. This is just pettiness on Hulu’s part.
@mogamer - This isn’t pettiness, but rather a legal requirement.
Eyal Kattan, I believe, is right. There’s a lot of content on Hulu that has been “contracted” to various local TV stations / NBC affiliates to be theirs on OTA/Cable/Satellite TV. If Hulu had a distribution method that was designed for TV viewing, then boom, they are breaking the rules of that contract, and they’ll likely lose the content or get sued. However, on a computer monitor, which is outside the contract, that’s okay.
I think we should be thankful that we have Hulu, instead of complaining about it.
They are sorry for the inconvenience? Yeah right!
Hulu sucks.